A Georgia Town Won’t Let A Muslim Group Rent Space For Worship

The town of Kennesaw, Georgia has voted to deny a Muslim group a permit to use former retail space as a worship center, amid anti-Islamic demonstrations from town residents, WXIA (Atlanta) is reporting.

The Suffa Dawat Center at Kennesaw had asked to rent a 2200-square-foot former retail space in a strip mall in order to give local Muslims a place to pray five times per day, as well as to conduct a weekly service, according to Think Progress. However, the proposal ignited fierce debate in the Georgia community, at times leading to heated exchanges between Muslims and local residents and demonstrations outside the town hall, with signs saying “Ban Islam” and “Islam wants no peace.”

One unnamed demonstrator summed up his opposition to Muslims having a place to worship in his community.

“To me [the mosque] is a threat to my freedom, my liberties, and everything I own.”

Others in the Georgia community were on the side of their Muslim neighbors or at least expressed their belief that their Muslim neighbors at least deserve the same rights as non-Muslims in the town. Local pastor C.S. Clarke said that though he understands the community’s concern, as Christians, they (and he) should try to be more tolerant.

“You know, if Christianity were killing people. I’m pretty sure I would have a problem with it. … Then I would be concerned with that moving into my neighborhood. But, I’m open, I’m inclusive. Christianity does teach love, inclusiveness, creating a better environment for everyone.”

On Monday night, the town council voted 4-1 to deny the permit to the Muslim group, citing concerns about zoning, noise, parking and traffic, according to WAGA (Atlanta).

Council member Debra Williams summed up the decision.

“It’s a retail space and it needs to stay retail space.”

Mayor Mark Matthews also claimed that the Georgia community has a ban on retail space being used for worship, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, AJC points out that just last summer, Kennesaw approved a permit for a Christian church to meet in a former retail space.

Kennesaw, Georgia is not the first community to deny a Muslim group the right to build a mosque. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice sued the town of Anthony, Minnesota for denying a permit to the Muslim community to build a mosque, according to this Inquisitr report.

Doug Dillard, attorney for the Muslim group, said he plans to appeal the decision to the courts, citing the First Amendment.

“This country was founded on the right to worship as we please, and that’s all these folks wanted to do, and they’ve been denied that right tonight. My advice to them is not to take it lying down.”

Do you believe the town of Kennesaw, Georgia is right to deny a Muslim group a permit to woship in a former retail space?

[Image courtesy of: Electronic Intifada]